Dartmouth school replaces Mother's Day, Father's Day with Family Day

A parent in Dartmouth, N.S. says her child’s school is taking political correctness too far by deciding to eliminate Mother’s Day and Father’s Day celebrations.

Astral Drive Elementary School has instead chosen to celebrate the International Day of Families, which takes place each year on May 15, to include non-traditional families.

Michelle Allaby says she has no problem with the idea of a family day, but she feels Mother’s Day and Father’s Day shouldn’t be abolished at the school.

“They weren’t allowed to make a card or a craft at Mother’s Day,” says Allaby. “So, I asked my friends that go to schools in the neighbouring area, and they said yes, that their child had come home with a Mother’s Day card or craft, and it was a little upsetting to me.”

As part of Family Day, students at the school were asked to write the names of all the people that supported them in their lives on a large tree hung in the gymnasium.

Family Day has been in place at the the school for two years. While some parents say it takes political correctness too far, others like that it is more inclusive.

“I think it’s a great idea because of the diverse families that there are today,” says Colleen Ferguson.

“I am the head of a single-family home, and I am mother and father,” says Shirley Owen.

Education Minister Ramona Jennex says celebrating diversity is important and that there is no provincial policy on Mother’s Day, Father’s Day or Family Day.

“Children can be isolated in a classroom if they’ve lost their mom or are in a family without a dad or in a family with two moms or two dads,” says Jennex.

The minister says individual schools understand their communities best and decisions should be made on a case-by-case basis.